What do I Need to Know About Texas Disabled Parking?

The Lonestar state is dedicated to safety for all drivers and passengers. That’s why everywhere you go, you will find blue and white handicapped parking spaces. These spaces are close to the door and come with extra loading room for walkers, wheelchairs and other assistive devices.

The Lonestar state is dedicated to keeping its residents safe. If you are eligible, it is important that you seek your disabled parking permit placard right away.

If you have a hard time walking more than 200 feet unassisted and without pain, talk with your doctor about your eligibility.

Am I Eligible for Disabled Parking in Texas?

The state of Texas and the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles grand disabled parking permits to persons with difficulty walking 200 feet unassisted. These permits may be issued on a temporary basis for six months, or on a permanent basis, depending on the nature and severity of the condition.

Every situation and every person is different. That’s why the decision is ultimately between you and your doctor. While there is no official list of conditions used by Texas medical providers, here is a list intended to describe some of the kinds of disabilities.

  • Use of a prosthetic device or brace
  • Neurological conditions causing seizures, dizziness, loss of balance or sudden and uncontrolled loss of muscle tone
  • Severe heart conditions or a history of heart attack and stroke, including the use of a pacemaker
  • Reliance on supplemental oxygen or a tendency to drop below 95% oxygenation on room air
  • Use of a wheelchair, walker, cane, brace or other assistive device
  • Legal blindness or partial blindness including cataracts

These are all chronic or lifelong conditions that may grant a person access to a permanent disabled parking permit. What about temporary access, you may ask? The basic guidelines are the same, based on a person’s ability to walk more than 200 feet. Broken bones, back injuries and other short term but debilitating injuries make the list for temporary placards. Once again, talk with your doctor about your eligibility.

Your physician signed certificate can be signed not only by your primary care physician but also by the nurse practitioners and physicians’ assistants that work with them. Additionally, if you receive care from a specialist the likes of a physical therapist, podiatrist or optometrist relating to your particular disability, they are also able to sign your paperwork for you.

If you are not being seen by a regular care provider, or you would rather not wait for a scheduled visit, consider making a virtual appointment. Due to the wonders of the internet, you can be seen almost on demand from the comfort of your home by some of the best and most qualified Texas providers. These virtual visits are convenient, straight to the point, and of course, can be used to verify your disability through a physician signed certificate.

How do I File For Disabled Parking in TX?

Once you have your physician signed certificate verifying the nature and duration of your disability, it’s time to file your paperwork at the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. The Application for Persons with Disabilities Parking Placard and/or License Plate (Form VTR-214) must be filled out in person at a local Texas office.

You will be issued either a red temporary placard lasting six months or a blue permanent placard, in accordance to your need. If you wish, you may choose to obtain a disabled parking permit license plate. This comes with the added benefit of being impossible to forget to display. This constitutes a renewal of your license plate and all applicable fees still apply.

How do I Report Abuse of Disabled Parking?

If you see someone park in a handicapped space without displaying their disabled parking permit placard, call your local law enforcement right away to report this violation. Be sure to note the time, place and license plate number related to the incident. Not only is this unspeakably rude, but it is a serious violation of Texas law.

When people park in disabled spaces unlawfully, they take that space away from disabled persons that may need it to be safe. Every year 500,000 American’s are hospitalized due to falls. When a disabled person is made to walk from the wrong end of the parking lot, they could become that statistic. That’s why it is so important to report violations when we see them.

If your disabled parking permit placard is lost or stolen, report it right away to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles office you got it from. Not only can they issue you a replacement to keep you safe from harm, but they will add the serial number of your old disabled parking permit placard to their list of placards at large. That way if someone is using your placard unlawfully, they will be caught by parking enforcement and punished appropriately.

By working together to respect the rules of the disabled parking permit program, we can keep our Texas communities safe from harm.

Texas Parking Overview

Disabled parking permits must be displayed prominently when parking in a disabled parking space. Failure to do so will land you with a ticket!

Parking permit placards may not be hung from your rearview while driving. This is an obstruction of view and come with, you guessed it, a ticket.

In addition to disabled parking spaces, you may also park at a parking meter space for free and for double the time, up to a maximum of four hours. Just a little thank you from the state of Texas.

Your Texas disabled parking permit is valid in all fifty states, as it is a widely accepted fact that crossing state lines does nothing for a broken hip. Likewise, visitors from other states who hold their state’s disabled parking permits are welcome to park in Texas disabled parking spaces, so give a warm welcome to visitors.

If you struggle to walk safely and without pain for distances greater than 200 feet, be sure and talk to your doctor about a disabled parking permit.

What is the Easiest Way to Get Disabled Parking in Texas?

Disabled parking permits are issued in Texas by the Department of Motor Vehicles. These permits are a part of an inter-state network of disabled parking spaces available to disabled persons all across America. When you see a blue and white handicapped sign, you are seeing a little piece of Texas history in action.

But, how can that piece of history work for you? If you have difficulty walking more than 200 feet and feel you would benefit from a disabled parking permit, there are just three steps you need to take.

Step one: Establish your eligibility for disabled parking

Step two: Verify your eligibility with a physician signed certificate

Step three: File your paperwork with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles

Still not sure how to go from here? Don’t worry. Follow along with these steps and you’ll be safer and more comfortable with your disabled parking permit in no time at all.

How do I Qualify For Disabled Parking?

Disabled parking permits are given out based on that one criterion mentioned above, that is, the inability to walk more than 200 feet without undue pain or risk of falling. Now, let’s elaborate on that. There are lots of conditions and disabilities that could cause a person ambulatory difficulties. While there is no exhaustive or master list, here are some of the more common causes for eligibility.

  • Use of a prosthetic device or brace
  • Neurological conditions causing seizures, dizziness, loss of balance or sudden and uncontrolled loss of muscle tone
  • Severe heart conditions or a history of heart attack and stroke, including the use of a pacemaker
  • Reliance on supplemental oxygen or a tendency to drop below 95% oxygenation on room air
  • Use of a wheelchair, walker, cane, brace or other assistive device
  • Legal blindness or partial blindness including cataracts

This list is by nature incomplete but should give you a better idea of the kinds of conditions that qualify. If you feel you may qualify for the disabled parking permit program, talk to your doctor about your eligibility.

The state of Texas also recognizes the need for temporary access to the disabled parking permit program. If you have been injured severely in the form of a broken bone, back injury or other accident altering your ability to walk more than 200 feet, you may qualify for a disabled parking permit on a temporary basis. These placards last six months.

Who Can Sign a Physician Signed Certificate?

As the name implies, a physician signed certificate can be signed by your primary care doctor. This certificate is a legal document you submit to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to verify your disability and obtain your disabled parking permit. Did you know that it can be signed by medical professionals other than an M.D?

Physician’s assistants and nurse practitioners, as members of your care team, can also sign this document. Also, many specialists can provide the necessary proof of your condition, if they work closely with you and are familiar with your particular disability. Optometrists can verify blindness, physical therapists can verify paralysis, and so forth. Be sure to ask your care team who can sign this document for you.

If you are not currently seeing a primary care doctor or a specialist, you may wish to seek a disability consultation through a virtual visit. Virtual visits give you access to the best and brightest medical professionals in Texas right from your home. Because of the ease of scheduling and streamlined, focused care provided by virtual visits, many Texas residents are choosing to obtain their physician signed certificate that way.

How Do I File for Disabled Parking in Texas?

Once you have your physician signed certificate, it’s time to file your paperwork with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. The Application for Persons with Disabilities Parking Placard and/or License Plate (Form VTR-214) must be filled out in person at a local Texas office.

Be sure to bring a form of photo I.D and the certificate stating the nature and duration of your disability. You will then be issued a placard in either red or blue. Red placards are temporary placards lasting up to six months. Blue placards are permanent, though they do expire every four years.

If you wish, you may also purchase a disabled parking permit license plate. The same fees for license plate renewal apply.

Texas Parking Rules

Once you have your disabled parking permit placard, review the rules before you take it on the road.

You must display your disabled parking permit placard prominently while parked in a handicapped space. Laying the placard on the dashboard or hanging the placard from the rearview mirror are popular choices. Remember to remove your placard from the rearview mirror while driving. While it is convenient, it is also an obstruction of view and could land you with a ticket.

If your permit is lost or stolen, report it as soon as possible to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles office where it was issued. Not only can they fix you up with a replacement, which you need to park, but they will alert local parking enforcement. That way, if the serial number on your old parking permit is seen, the thief will be fined or imprisoned for their misdeeds.

If you see someone park in a disabled parking space without displaying a disabled parking permit placard, this is a crime. Be sure to inform local law enforcement of the time, place and license plate number of the offense. It is more than rude to park illegally in a handicapped space, it is dangerous. Many disabled people are at risk for falls when they are forced to walk farther or squeeze between cars. Keep your community safe by reporting parking violations.

Remember that the disabled parking permit program is about safety. The Lonestar state is dedicated to keeping residents and visitors fall free through the disabled parking permit program. If you feel you would benefit from a disabled parking permit, talk with your doctor.

How do I File for Disabled Parking in Texas?

In the great state of Texas, disabled parking is offered to citizens with difficulty walking due to pain, balance issues or physical disabilities. Disabled parking permits grant the holder access to disabled parking spaces which are not only closer to the door, but have additional loading space including for vans, wheelchair loading, and walkers. Disabled parking permit holders are also allowed to park at parking meters free of charge.

If you are looking to file for disabled parking in the Lonestar state, you have just three easy steps ahead of you. First, establish your eligibility by checking the list of conditions below. Second, verify your disability with a licensed Texas medical provider and obtain your physician signed certificate. Lastly, file your forms with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

How do I Qualify for Texas Disabled Parking?

Disabled parking permits are given out based on one simple question. Can the patient walk more than 200 feet without pain, risk of falling, or an assistive device? If the answer is no, that person is eligible for a disabled parking permit. To put that in plain English, you are eligible if…

  • You rely on a walker, wheelchair or cane
  • You have a serious heart condition or have had a heart attack or stroke
  • You have an amputation, prosthesis or paralyzed limb
  • You are legally blind
  • You have a form of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
  • You rely on supplemental oxygen

This isn’t a complete list but should give you an idea of the kinds of chronic conditions that warrant a disabled parking permit. The best person to tell you if you are eligible is, of course, your doctor. If you have any uncertainty, ask your primary care doctor or schedule a virtual visit to determine if you are eligible.

The above are all chronic or lifelong conditions, but the state of Texas also issued temporarily disabled parking permits which are valid for six months. These permits are issued along the same guidelines, that is, difficulty walking more than 200 feet. This could be caused by surgery, pregnancy, broken bones or severe respiratory illness. If you are injured or ill to the point that it severely limits your mobility, talk to your doctor about temporary access.

How do I Obtain a Physician Signed Certificate?

Once you have determined that you are eligible, it’s time to make an appointment with a Texas medical provider. The physician signed certificate is a legal document proving to the state of Texas and the Department of Motor Vehicles that you are disabled and in need of a disabled parking permit.

Specialists, primary care providers, advanced practice nurse practitioners, physicians’ assistants, all of them can sign for you. If they are a qualified Texas medical professional and you have worked with them regarding your condition or disability, they can verify your condition and satisfy the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles requirement.

If you are not currently seeing a primary care doctor, or if your next appointment is a long ways off, consider being seen through a virtual visit. Virtual visits are a great way to get connected to a qualified medical professional in the state of Texas when you have a specific need, such as your disabled parking permit application. Virtual visits are quick and comfortable, taking place on your time, right from your home.

How do I File My Paperwork?

Once you have obtained your physician signed certificate verifying the nature and duration of your disability, it’s time to file with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. The form you need is form VTR-214. Once completed you will be granted either a temporary or permanent placard, according to your needs.

Temporary placards are valid for up to six months, after which time you will need to resubmit your application, with a new physician signed certificate to boot. Permanent placards do expire but can be renewed by mail, every four years.

If you lose your placard or believe it has been stolen, report it right away. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles will issue you a replacement, as well as alert law enforcement that the serial number of your old placard may be being used fraudulently.

Texas Disabled Parking Rules

Now that you have your disabled parking permit, take note of the rules so you don’t end up on the wrong side of a parking ticket.

  1. Always display your disabled parking permit placard while parked. Failure to do so could land you with a big fine and a loss of your placard.
  2. Do not drive with your placard hanging from your rearview mirror. While it might be a cool looking accessory, up there with fuzzy dice, it is also an obstruction of view. Keep your view clear or risk a ticket.
  3. Don’t worry about parking meters. As a part of the privilege of disabled parking permits, you no longer have to feed the meter. You also get double the time to park, to a maximum of four hours. After all, everyone needs a chance to park.
  4. Feel free to park in the other fifty states with your disabled parking permit placard. Just make sure you are familiar with the parking enforcement rules wherever you go.

Most importantly, if you see a parking violation relating to disabled parking, report it immediately. Parking in a handicapped space without a permit is not okay. Handicapped spaces keep Texans safe. If you see someone saddle up to that blue and white spot without displaying their handicapped parking placard, call it in. Be sure to include the time, place and license plate number of the fool who parked there. Not only is it rude, but it’s dangerous!

There is a special spot in Texas law for people who mess with disabled parking. Misuse of disabled parking space, theft of a disabled parking permit placard, or fraudulent attempts to gain a disabled parking permit are all punishable by up to $10,000 in fines or up to five years in jail. As the saying goes, don’t mess with Texas.

How To Receive The Most From Your Disabled Parking Permit In Texas

It can be easy to get lost in all the different information out on the internet about disabled parking. Each state has its laws, and rules and regulations can even be different from city to city. This can make navigating through all the information in your state tough.

Texas has a robust amount of regulations to enhance the experience of disabled parking permit users. Here is a helpful that breaks down all the best information you should know about disabled parking and permits in the lone-star state.

Facts You Need To Know

As stated previously, Texas has passed many bills to help the disabled. This is especially true for those who utilize disability parking. Here is a list of bills that have been passed to help those who are disabled.

Senate Bill 1984

This bill extends the authority to prescribe handicap parking placards. This is meant to conform to the Physician-PA practice laws that are active in Texas. This ensures that patients of Physician Assistants in a Physician-PA practice model will not be delayed in receiving a disabled parking permit

Senate Bill 1367

This bill authorizes a person who is licensed to practice optometry or therapeutic optometry to provide a notarized statement or written prescription that is required for a disabled parking permit for someone with a mobility issue caused by poor/impaired vision. 

Senate Bill 52

This bill increases penalties for illegal use of parking spaces for people with disabilities and allow the peace officer to seize the placard from an individual not authorized to use. This law protects the rights of those with a disability, it’s great that Texas passed this bill.

House Bill 3593

This bill authorizes a person entitled to license plates for disabled veterans to elect to receive standard license plates at the same cost as the disabled license plates. This is good to make sure that our veterans are getting the benefits they deserve. 

House Bill 3095

This bill simplifies enforcement and increases the fines for illegally parking in handicapped parking spaces from the original $250 to $500 to a minimum of $500 and a maximum of $750. It also increases the penalties (fines and community service) with each subsequent offense.

This just further protects the rights of those with a disability to parking in their designated spaces. It serves to sway people from parking in a designated space who don’t need it. 

House Bill 2020           

This bill authorizes a vehicle to be parking for an unlimited period in a parking space or area designated for the disabled if the vehicle displays license plates issued by other states in the U.S. The license plates must indicate that the owner or operator of the vehicle is a disabled veteran of the United States armed forces.  

House Bill 965

This bill entitles a veteran to register, for their use, any number of motor vehicles for which the registrant may be issued specialty license plates for disabled veterans and disabled parking placards.

This is better than what a lot of other states allow. Some states allow a person to have just one license plate. This isn’t ideal for someone who owns several vehicles. Texas fixes this issue with this bill.

House Bill 618

This bill exempts a vehicle with a specialty license plate for recipients of the Air Force Cross or Distinguished Service Cross, the Army Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, the Medal of Honor, or the Legion of Merit medal from parking fees collected through a meter charged by a governmental authority other than the federal government. The vehicle must be driven by or for the transportation of the person who registered the vehicle.

This allows our disabled veterans who have been recognized can take their time when parking next to meters that are timed/require money. 

House Bill 400

This bill allows a grace period for a person cited for illegally parking a vehicle with an expired disabled parking placard by obtaining a valid placard within 20 workdays or before your first court date for the citation.

This is essentially the state recognizing that life happens and it’s not always possible to renew your placard before it expires. In these instances, Texas is understanding and you can take of any citation for an expired permit but simply renewing it.

Renewing Your Placard

Renewing your permanent placard is a simple process. But, you must know the process so that you can receive a valid placard promptly.

To renew your permanent placard you must complete and sign the affidavit portion of an application. This should be submitted along with a copy of the original application. You’ll need to send it off to the county tax office.

If you do not have a copy of the original application, you can submit the expiring placard in its place.

It should be noted that temporary placards cannot be renewed. If you find that you need a disabled parking permit longer than your temporary placard provides, you’ll need to reapply completely. This means another trip to a medical professional to recertify your disability.

Where To Place Your Placard

Your placards must always be hung from the rearview mirror while the vehicle is using a designated disabled parking space.

Remember to take the placard off of your rearview mirror while the vehicle is in motion. If you fail to do so, it could be seen as an obstruction to your vision. This could result in a citation, so be sure to follow the law and remove it when the vehicle is in motion.

Conclusion

Texas offers a robust variety of benefits for those who use disabled parking spaces, especially for those who are veterans. By now, you should know all the best information to help you or someone you know who has a disability.

Always follow the laws in your state and remember to check local city ordinances for additional information.

How To Get Your Disabled Parking Permit in Texas

Understanding the world of disabled parking permits is tough. The rules and regulations for who can own a disabled parking permit vary from state to state. Even some cities have their own rules for who can own a disabled parking permit.

This ocean of information is a lot to dive into it. So, here is a helpful guide in navigating your way to getting your disabled parking permit.

Who Is Eligible?

This is the first step in obtaining your disabled parking permit in Texas. Texas, like all other states, have their qualifications for who can own a disabled parking permit.

It’s important to understand if you can qualify for a permit before you apply. Applying incorrectly or inappropriately can be detrimental to receiving a disabled parking permit promptly. An applicant must meet at least one or more of the criteria.

With that in mind, here are the qualifications to own a disabled parking permit in Texas:

  • You must have a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with correcting lenses.
  • You must have a visual acuity of more than 20/200 but with a limited field of vision in which the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle of 20 degrees or less.
  • You must have a mobility problem that substantially impairs your ability to move around. Here are some examples of problems that can cause this:
  • Paralysis
  • Lung disease
  • Cardiac deficiency
  • Wheelchair confinement
  • Arthritis
  • Foot disorder
  • Other medical condition causing a person to use a brace, cane, crutch, or other assistive devices.

While these qualifications may seem complicated and perhaps even difficult to obtain, Texas has a more lenient set of standards compared to other states. Some other states require disabilities to meet certain classifications from other organizations. However, as you can see, Texas has a broader definition of what may classify as a qualifying disability.

 

How To Apply

Now that you understand who exactly can apply, it’s imperative to know where and how you can apply to obtain a disabled parking permit as quickly as possible.

To obtain an application for a plate and/or placard you must pick up an application from your local county tax assessor-collector’s office. The application is also called the VTR-214 Application for Persons with Disabilities Parking Placard and/or License Plate.

After you’ve retried your application, it’s time to visit a healthcare professional. You must have your doctor or healthcare provider complete the “Disability Statement” section of the application you’ve just picked up. They’ll certify which qualification(s) you meet for a disabled parking permit.

Once you’ve fully completed your application and had a medical professional complete their appropriate section, it’s time to turn it in. You’ll need to submit the completed application, and any applicable payment, to your county tax office or the county tax office where you are seeking medical treatment.

Finally, once you’ve submitted your documents, it’s a waiting game. Soon you’ll be the happy owner of a disabled parking permit.

However, it’s also important to know the best practices for owning one of these permits. Let’s dive into some helpful information once you have your permit.

 

Renewals

A permanent placard is only valid for a certain amount of time. When the time comes to renew your permanent placard you’ll have to complete the Affidavit portion of a new application. You won’t have to complete the disability statement (no more trips to the doctor!) But, you do need to include another signature.

Once you’ve completed that document, you must submit a copy of the original application, along with the new application, to your county tax office or the county tax office where you are seeking medical treatment.

I Don’t Have My Original Application, Who Keeps That?

Don’t sweat it, it happens all the time. If you’ve found that you don’t have the original copy of your application for a disabled parking permit, you can submit your expiring placard(s) to your county tax office or the county tax office where you are seeking medical treatment.

It should be noted that temporary placards are not able to be renewed. If you find that you need your parking permit for longer than the temporary placard lasts, you’ll need to reapply for a new placard and through the entire process again.

This provides a simple and effective way to quickly get a replacement placard.

 

Lost/Stolen/Damaged Placards

Sometimes life happens and you may lose your permit, have it stolen, or it simply wears down. If this happens, it means you’ll need to get a replacement. Thankfully there is an easy process to get one.

If you need to replace a placard you’ll need to submit a photocopy of your original application to the local county tax assessor-collector’s office. If you do not have a photocopy of the original application, or the office can’t verify that the placard was issued, you’ll have to completely reapply for a new placard.

Which Parking Spaces Can I Use?

There’s still just a couple things left for you to understand to gain all the benefits from your disabled parking permit. Here is the breakdown of who can use which disabled parking spaces:

Temporary Permits

It’s important to know that people who own a temporary parking placard will have their placard be red. Those with this permit may only park their vehicles in disabled parking spaces colored red. However, you can use the blue designated spaces if those are the only available.

Permanent Permits

Those with a permanently disabled parking permit can park their vehicles in either blue or red spaces.

Conclusion

You should now understand all the ins and outs of disabled parking in Texas. Remember to follow all applicable laws and to check your local ordinances for any additional information.